Davis wins seat on Chatham board

Seth Taylor is an ardent fan of democracy, so while he would have liked to have had another three years as selectman he accepted the loss in stride.

Doreen Leggett dleggett@wickedlocal.com @dleggettCodder

Seth Taylor is an ardent fan of democracy, so while he would have liked to have had another three years as selectman he accepted the loss in stride.

“At the end of the day the voters get to make choices,” he said, adding that serving the town was “a privilege and honor.”

Taylor, the incumbent, was bested by Shareen Davis in Thursday’s election 1,289 to 706.

Davis, who like Taylor has deep roots in town, was gratified by the win and thanked her supporters. She was surrounded by a crowd of well-wishers when the polls closed at the community center after close to 40 percent of voters turned out.

Davis had more than a dozen meet and greets, all drawing between 20 and 40 people, in the days leading up to the election.

She said people spoke mostly about the need for affordable housing, keeping young, working families in town, and the importance of getting the council of aging a new building.

“Those are the three things that were really of concern,” Davis said.

Davis said she met seniors and younger folks alike who were “energized and motivated” to work on some of the problems the community faced. They felt that there has been some divisiveness in town and were looking for something different.

“Someone who would just listen to their concerns and would bring some unity to the board,” Davis said

Taylor said he did a great deal to foster open debate and dialogue and provide a voice to those who aren’t often heard.

“I have had the privilege of being able to speak frankly,” he said.

By speaking frankly he said he was the target of unfair, inaccurate characterizations, but, he said, he was fine with that.

“There is nobody that worked as hard as a selectman,” he said, adding he put in 30 to 60 hours a week into the volunteer position. (He also donated his stipend to charity.)

Davis is a life-long advocate and is well-known in town, having served on a variety of town and civic boards. As a small business owner, commercial photographer and member of a long-time fishing family, she has said she is equally comfortable on Main Street as she is along the shoreline.

Along with the election there were three ballot questions before voters and they all passed.

The first advocated moving the spent fuel rods at Pilgrim Nuclear Power plant to safe storage, which passed 1,684 to 165. The second, securing a victory with a vote of 1,281 to 535, funded about $31 million in wastewater infrastructure. And the last, approved 1,233 to 586, bonded approximately $11 million so the town could begin to tackle the considerable amount of waterfront capital improvements it needs to make.